Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Real Madrid's English defender #12 Trent Alexander-Arnold reacts on the ground after suffering an injury during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Real Madrid CF and Olympique de Marseille at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium i

Alexander-Arnold injury could rule out Anfield return

Real Madrid have confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold picked up a hamstring injury in Tuesday's Champions League opener, which could force him out of a reunion with former club Liverpool in November.

Soccer • 7 hrs

Luiz Junior of Villarreal scores scores an own goal

Tuesday's Champions League recap

The Champions League group stage got underway is thrilling style on Tuesday with Real Madrid coming from behind to beat Marseille and Juventus and Borussia Dortmund sharing eight second-half goals in a 4-4 classic. Here's how it all happened.

Soccer • 15 hrs

Rasmus Hojlund of Napoli celebrates his goal during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SSC Napoli at Artemio Franchi on September 13, 2025 in Florence, Italy.

European wrap: United loanee Hojlund nets for Napoli

Manchester United loanee Rasmus Hojlund needed only 14 minutes of his Napoli debut to find the net as he helped them to a 3-1 win at Fiorentina that extended their perfect start to the Serie A campaign.

Soccer • 13 Sep

OVIEDO, SPAIN - AUGUST 24: Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Oviedo and Real Madrid CF at Carlos Tartiere on August 24, 2025 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Bruno Pena

Mbappe says mental health remains taboo in elite sport

France captain Kylian Mbappe said top athletes are still reluctant to speak freely about mental health because they fear being judged, adding that his passion for the game is what keeps him from becoming disillusioned with football.

Soccer • 10 Sep

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid in action during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between Real Madrid CF and Al Hilal at Hard Rock Stadium on June 18, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Champions League draw: Liverpool reunion for TAA

Trent Alexander-Arnold could face a frosty reception at Anfield while Kevin De Bruyne can expect a hero's welcome at the Etihad Stadium after the Champions League draw threw up two fascinating reunions.

Soccer • 28 Aug

Fabian Ruiz #8 of Paris Saint-Germain scores against Real Madrid in 2025 Club World Cup semi-final

PSG brush Madrid aside to reach Club World Cup final

European champions Paris St-Germain produced a blistering performance to power into the Club World Cup final with a 4-0 rout of Real Madrid.

Soccer • 10 Jul

Real Madrid's Spanish forward #30 Gonzalo Garcia celebrates after scoring the opening goal with teammate English defender #12 Trent Alexander-Arnold during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 football match between Spain's Real Madrid and Italy's Juv

Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund progress at CWC

Trent Alexander-Arnold claimed his first Real Madrid assist as Gonzalo Garcia's third Club World Cup goal secured a 1-0 victory over Juventus in Miami. Real will face Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals after the Germans clinched a 2-1 win over Monterrey.

Soccer • 02 Jul

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 22: Jude Bellingham #5 of Real Madrid C. F. celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between Real Madrid CF and CF Pachuca at Bank of America Stadium on June 22, 2025 in Ch

Madrid move closer to CWC knockouts beating Pachuca

Real Madrid shrugged off an early red card for Raul Asencio to move closer to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup after a 3-1 win over Mexican side Pachuca in Charlotte.

Soccer • 22 Jun

Kylian Mbappe player of Real Madrid is training on June 15, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida.

Updated Mbappe leaves hospital after 'acute gastroenteritis'

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has been admitted to hospital with "acute gastroenteritis", the Spanish giants have revealed.

Soccer • 19 Jun

MADRID, SPAIN - JANUARY 26: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on January 26, 2023 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Image

Four people sentenced over Vinicius Jr effigy

Four people have been handed suspended jail sentences by a Madrid Court after being found guilty of a hate crime related to an effigy of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr.

Soccer • 16 Jun

VALDEBEBAS, SPAIN - JUNE 10: Dean Huijsen attends a press conference during his presentation as new player of Real Madrid at Ciudad Deportiva Real Madrid on June 10, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo By Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty Images)

Huijsen describes Real Madrid as 'the club of my life'

Dean Huijsen said Real Madrid is "the club of my life" as he was formally unveiled following his £50m move from Bournemouth.

Soccer • 10 Jun

Florian Wirtz of Bayer Leverkusen looks on during the 1.Bundesliga match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto)

Liverpool make Wirtz bid, sign Frimpong and sell TAA

Liverpool have made an improved offer totalling €130m for Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz, it's understood, and also agreed a deal for Trent Alexander-Arnold to join Real Madrid on 1 June.

Soccer • 30 May

Xabi Alonso will be officially unveiled as the new Real Madrid manager on Monday

Alonso appointed Real Madrid manager on three-year deal

Xabi Alonso has been appointed Real Madrid manager for the next three seasons

Soccer • 25 May

Kylian Mbappe celebrates with Luka Modric who will leave Real Madrid after 13 years

European wrap: Mbappe stars on day of Real farewells

Kylian Mbappe struck twice as Real Madrid said goodbye to Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modric with a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu.

Soccer • 24 May

Ancelotti says he won't coach another club after Real

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said that he has no desire to coach another club in the future as the Italian prepares to leave the Spanish giants after four hugely successful years in his second tenure.

Soccer • 23 May

Luka Modric won six Champions Leagues with Real Madrid

Modric to leave Real Madrid after 13 years

Luka Modric will leave Real Madrid after the Club World Cup, the Croatian midfielder has confirmed, as the club's most successful player and the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner prepares to end a trophy-laden stint in Spain.

Soccer • 22 May

Five found guilty of hate crimes after Vinicius abuse

Five people were handed prison sentences for racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr during a match in a landmark first ruling in Spain that condemned racist insults in a soccer stadium as a hate crime.

Soccer • 21 May

Dean Huijsen will link up with Real Madrid before the Club World Cup

Real activate £50m release clause to sign Huijsen

Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen will complete a move to Real Madrid in time to feature in the Club World Cup after the Spanish giants activated his £50m (€59.5m) release clause.

Soccer • 17 May

Jacobo Ramon celebrates after his late winner for Real Madrid

Real keep title race going with late win over Mallorca

Jacobo Ramon's stoppage-time goal helped Real Madrid beat Mallorca 2-1 and put La Liga leaders Barcelona's title celebrations on hold for another day at least.

Soccer • 14 May

Barcelona brace boy Raphinha is embraced by his team-mates

Barcelona beat Real Madrid in seven-goal thriller

Barcelona have one hand on the La Liga trophy after beating Real Madrid 4-3 in an El Clasico goalfest.

Soccer • 11 May

Xabi Alonso spent five years as a player at Real Madrid between 2009 and 2014, and his first official coaching role was with the Real Madrid's Under-14s in 2018

Updated Alonso to leave Leverkusen at the end of the season

Xabi Alonso will step down as head coach of Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, the German club have announced.

Soccer • 09 May

Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrates Liverpool's Premier League title victory at Anfield

Madrid keen to sign TAA in time for Club World Cup

Real Madrid have made an initial approach to Liverpool over signing Trent Alexander-Arnold in time for the Club World Cup.

Soccer • 06 May

Trent Alexander-Arnold: 'This is easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life'

Alexander-Arnold confirms intention to leave Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced he will leave Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Soccer • 05 May

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and defender Ronald Araujo lift the Spanish Cup trophy

Barcelona beat Real in dramatic Copa del Rey decider

A Jules Kounde goal in the dying minutes of extra time handed Barcelona a dramatic 3-2 win over fierce rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.

Soccer • 26 Apr

Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea gestures during the La Liga match between Espanyol and Getafe

Real Madrid call for removal of Copa del Rey officials

Real Madrid have branded comments made by match officials set to take charge of their Copa del Rey final against Barcelona "unacceptable" after the referee broke down in tears at a press conference.

Soccer • 26 Apr